Tarau of Tovu Totoya
Encyclopedia
Tarau of Totoya was the first wife of Niumataiwalu
, founder of the Vuanirewa
dynasty, or noble clan, of the Lau Islands
(in Fiji
).
She was the mother of two Roko Sau’s of the Lau Islands, Uluilakeba I
and Rasolo
. Oral history indicates that she was the daughter of the High Chief of Totoya
, and because of her beauty, Niumataiwalu pursued for her hand on one of his visits to the island. However it is further recorded that she was not the biological daughter of the High Chief of Totoya, but merely adopted by him in order to raise her status to that of a noble and allow Niumataiwalu to marry her. She is said to have been a captive from the island of Komo
and was brought up in the Lord of Totoya’s household. When Niumataiwalu became enamoured with her and sued for marriage, the Lord of Totoya instructed him to climb the red coconut palm, harvest the fruit and bathe her with the milk from it to wash away her commonness and Komoan nationality and become a Totoyan. When this was done, only then was Tarau recognised as the High Chief of Totoya’s daughter.
Niumataiwalu
Niumataiwalu was the founder of the Vuanirewa dynasty, a noble clan of the Lau Islands from which the Tui Nayau is chosen. Niumataiwalu was the son of Delainavugalei, a high ranking noble of the island of Nayau and Lakeba....
, founder of the Vuanirewa
Vuanirewa
The Vuanirewa is the ruling tribe of the Lau Islands, a scattered group of more than a hundred islands and reefs along the eastern edge of Fiji.- Origins :...
dynasty, or noble clan, of the Lau Islands
Lau Islands
The Lau Islands of Fiji are situated in the southern Pacific Ocean, just east of the Koro Sea. Of this chain of about one hundred islands and islets, about thirty are inhabited...
(in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
).
She was the mother of two Roko Sau’s of the Lau Islands, Uluilakeba I
Uluilakeba I
Uluilakeba I was the second child and eldest son of Niumataiwalu. He succeeded to his fathers title, becoming the second Roko Sau and High Chief of the Lau Islands, upon the latter’s death in Ono-i-Lau. He was the progenitor of the senior and eldest of the four noble households in the Vuanirewa...
and Rasolo
Rasolo
Rasolo was the second son of Niumataiwalu, founder of the Vuanirewa dynasty or noble clan of the Lau Islands in Fiji.-Vuanirewa:Rasolo became the third Roko Sau of the Lau Islands and first installed holder of the title Tui Nayau. According to oral history, when Rasolo and the rest of his family...
. Oral history indicates that she was the daughter of the High Chief of Totoya
Totoya
Totoya is a volcanic island in the Moala subgroup of Fiji's Lau archipelago. It occupies an area of 28 square kilometers, making it the smallest of the Moalas. Its maximum altitude is 366 meters. The main economic activity is coconut farming....
, and because of her beauty, Niumataiwalu pursued for her hand on one of his visits to the island. However it is further recorded that she was not the biological daughter of the High Chief of Totoya, but merely adopted by him in order to raise her status to that of a noble and allow Niumataiwalu to marry her. She is said to have been a captive from the island of Komo
Komo
Komo may refer to:*Komo or Kommos , an ancient seaport on this Grecian island*Komo Department, Gabon*Komo, Burma*Komo people, an ethnic group who live along the Sudanese-Ethiopian border*Komo language, the language of that people...
and was brought up in the Lord of Totoya’s household. When Niumataiwalu became enamoured with her and sued for marriage, the Lord of Totoya instructed him to climb the red coconut palm, harvest the fruit and bathe her with the milk from it to wash away her commonness and Komoan nationality and become a Totoyan. When this was done, only then was Tarau recognised as the High Chief of Totoya’s daughter.